I often have people whinging to me that the singing at Opera Australia just isn't exciting enough and that is often the case.

No complaints with Natalie Christie, though, a sparkling young Australian soprano making her company debut as Susanna. If you could get a ticket to one of the two final performances to hear her, I would urge you to do so, but if Monday's overflowing house is any guide, a John Howard apology to our Aboriginal brethren would be more readily available.

Christie is irresistibly funny, a tiny little dynamo effortlessly organising all about her. Where many of our young singers seem to rely on their physical performance to give a clue to how their vocal one should be unfolding, Christie offers a seamless marriage of the two. Yes, of course that's the way it should be, but...

With Christie's bright and beautifully placed voice at the centre of things, the rest falls into place satisfyingly.